Pronation indicating device



April 1955 R. J. CWIAK ETAL 2,706,856

PRONATION INDICATING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 55. i 47 I m 25 I N I I T J5 J. I II J6 JFa/ez /fors.

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United States Patent Ofiice 2,706,855 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 PRONATION INDICATEIG DEVICE Robert J. Cwialt and Joseph J. Cwiak, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 7, 1949, Serial No. 97,612

4 Claims. (Cl. 333) Our invention relates to a pronation indicating device for fitting shoes and has for its primary object the supplying of a device whereby certain foot measurements can be taken for the purpose of securing the proper fit of a shoe upon a foot or for the purpose of securing measurements for the making of shoes to order, for the the feet are sustaining the Weight of the body, which ofttimes causes a turning of the ankle to one side or pronation of it, so that the degree of pronation can be determined and the proper fitting of a shoe can be made to the foot particularly through the major arch of the foot.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a device in which the splay of a foot can be determined with accuracy and corrective means can be applied to a shoe in the form of pads or the like to provide a proper fitting of the shoe and also to correctly fit up the concavity forming the longitudinal arch of the foot and to such extent as may be desirable to insure such corrective measures as may be necessary to provide proper foot support and comfort and to provide the three-point support recognized as necessary in a shoe to secure proper body support by the feet.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a device in which the measurement of the foot can be determined both with respect to the length in a longitudinal direction from the ball of the foot to the heel, but also in a transverse position particularly through the instep, so that the proper fitting can be obtained of a shoe to support the instep.

Another and further object of our invention is the provision of a foot measuring device in which a plurality of measurements can be made at the same time and the degree of pronation of the ankle can be determined, as well as the degree of the flattening and/or splay of the foot through the ankle due to sustaining the weight of the body on the feet so that proper fitting can be had of orthopedic shoes or proper dimensions can be easily or quickly ascertained for the making of shoes to order or the like.

These and other objects of our invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device partially in section and partially in elevation;

Figure 2 is a longitudial, sectional view on lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View on lines 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a base is shown comprising two portions which are connected together by vertical side wall portions 11 and 12 and a web 13, so that a base 10 is formed to support the balance of the mechanism forming the device. A pair of foot supports 14, 14 to support both feet simultaneously are provided having side walls 15, 15, end walls 16, 16

and are secured to the base 10 by means of screws 19, 19 inserted through the side walls 15, and end walls 16, 16 near their lower edges and which engage lugs 20, 20 integrally formed on the base 10.

Extending angularly upward from the web 13 are leg portions 21 and 22 connected by a web portion 23, so that openings 24, 24 are provided through the foot portions 14, 14 through which portions of the device, as hereinafter described, extend.

Mounted on the web 13 and extending longitudinally alongside of the edges of the sections 17 and 18 are guides 25 and 26, each of said guides having channels 27, 27 in each of the sides thereof. Sliding members 28 and 29 are provided which have upwardly extending portions 30 and 31 thereon which are curved on their inner faces and are adapted to fit against the large ball joint of the first toe of each foot. Each of these sliding members 28 and 29 has base portions 32, 32 which fit over the guides 25 and 26 and have tongue portions 33 and 34 thereon which are fitted into the channels 27, 27 in the sides of the guides 25 and 26, which have calibrations 35, 35 thereon which are viewed through openings 36, 36 in the top of the base portions 32, 32. These sliding members serve as guides to position the foot properly on the foot supports 14, 14 and also to determine the length of the foot from the heel to the ball joint of the foot, with heel plates 37, 37 mounted at the rear ends of the foot supports 14, 14 and against which the foot rests during the measurement process, so that the measurement can be determined from the rear portion of the heel to the ball joint of the first toe for use in computing the proper length of shoe needed by the wearer.

Each of the foot supports 14, 14 extends upwardly at its forward end and has openings 38, 38 therein under which glass members 39, 39 are mounted, having transverse lines 40, 46 thereon with calibrations 41, 41, the glass members being mounted in suitable frames 42, 42 which are attached to the under side of the top portions 17 and 18 of the foot supports by means of screws 43, 43, the glass members 39, 39 providing windows for purposes hereinafter described.

Right and left pronation plates 44 and 45 are provided, as hereinafter described, and have arcuate shaped vanes 46, 46 thereon which extend inwardly toward each other, these pronation plates being mounted at the sides of each of the foot supports 14, 14 and extend through the openings 24, 24 therein and at a distance from the heel plates 37, 37 corresponding to the approximate distance from the rear portion of the heel to the median line of the ankle of an average foot, with these plates being wide enough to compensate for some variation in foot lengths.

Each of these plates 44 and 45 has ears 47, 47 thereon which extend alongside lugs 48, 48 integrally formed on the base 10 and extend upwardly therefrom, with bolts 49, 49 extending through the ears 47, 47 and through the upper ends of the lugs 48, 48 by means of which the pronation plates 44 and 45 are mounted in such manner that they oscillate in a side-to-side direction. At the lower end of these plates, springs 50 are anchored at one end to lugs 51 secured to the vertical wall portions 11 and 12 respectively of the base 10, with the other ends of the springs 50 being secured to the lower ends of the pronation plates 44 and 45.

Mechanisms for showing the pronation of the feet are provided which are operatively combined with each of the foot supports 14, 14 and are made in rights and lefts, but only one such mechanism is illustrated in the drawings, particularly in the sectional portion of Fig. l of the drawings, and consists of a lug 52 on the base 10 and extends upwardly therefrom and has an arm 53 pivotally mounted thereon intermediate its ends, which moves in a horizontal plane about the lug 52 and is connected at one of its ends 54 to the lower end of the pronation plate 44 by means of a cord 55. At the forward end of the base 10 is a post 56 integrally formed with the base 10, which has a rotating cap member 57 thereon, with a collar portion 58 being formed integrally therewith and upon which a disc 59 is mounted by means of screws 60, 60 extending through slotted openings in the disc 59 to allow for rotatable adjustment of the disc 59. A screw 61 extends through the cap member 57 and into threaded engagement with the post 56 so that the disc 59 rotates freely upon the post 56. The disc 59 has a spiral line 62 on the upper face thereof of constantly increasing radius from the point 63 to an outside point 64, this line being directly under the glass window 39 having the lines 40, 40 and calibrations 41, 41 thereon so that as the disc 59 rotates the extent of pronation of the ankle is indicated by the calibrations appearing on the window 39. A guide member 62a is mounted on the base and extends transversely across the base member 10 and forms a support for one end of the arm 53, and has a post 65 extending upward therefrom upon which a roller 66 is mounted, for purposes hereinafter described. Another post 67 is provided which extends upward from the base 10 and has one end of a spring 68 secured thereto, the other end of which spring is secured to one end of a cord 69, said cord having a plurality of turns around the roller 66 and has its other end attached to the arm 53.

A belt 70 is provided which extends around the roller 66 and around the base of the cap member 57, so that any rotary movement of the roller 66 is communicated to the disc 59 through the belt 70.

In the normal state of the device the pronation plate 44 is in a vertical position, so held by the tension of the spring 50 attached to the lower end of the pronation plates 44 and the spring 68 through the cord 69 attached to the lever 53. The outer end of the line 62 at 64 is also in register with the calibration on the glass 39, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Should the disc 59 in its normal position not register properly, the screws 60, 60 can be loosened and the plate 59 rotated to proper position to register with the outer line of calibration.

The arm 53 is so proportioned with respect to the ends of each side of its fulcrum point that a predetermined tilting of the pronation plate 44 is registered by rotation of the disc 59 in relation to the position of the line 62 with respect to the calibrations on the window 39, which may be viewed by an attendant or by an individual himself standing upon the device.

It will be understood that all of the parts heretofore described which are positioned between the main base It) and the foot portion 18 are duplicated under the foot portion 17 and connected to the pronation plate 45 and function in the same manner as the parts described, which are connected to the pronation plate 4-4 except in a reverse direction.

Clips 71, 71 are provided by means of which sheets of paper can be laid on top of the foot pieces 17 and 18 and an outline of the foot drawn of the person being fitted, if desired.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the operation of the device will be readily and quickly understood in that when it is desired to fit an individual with the proper shoes he places his feet on the plates 17 and 18 With his heel resting against the heel plates 37, 37 and the sides of his ankles against the pronation plates 44 and 45. When the feet are relaxed merely placing the feet on the plates 17 and 18 in proper position against the heel plates and the joints of the feet opposite the slides and 31 with the feet and legs not sustaining the body of the person being fitted, an observation can be made as to the extent and degree of the pronation of the ankles relative to the plane of the foot of the person being fitted because the pronation plates will be moved outward and the pronation plates 44 and tilted to such an extent that the right-hand plate 59 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, while a similar plate (not shown) is rotated in a clockwise direction, thus registering the degree of pronation of the ankles in a relaxed position.

Thereafter a person being fitted stands upon the plates 17 and 18 in proper position as determined by the heel plates 37 and the slides 30 and 31 and if there is an increase in the pronation of the ankles, it will be indicated by the extent of rotation of the discs 59, as heretofore indicated in describing the operation of the device with respect to the relaxed position of the feet. In this manner the degree of pronation of both the ankles and the splay of the feet can be readily and quickly detected and a proper fitting to correct such condition can be secured either in a regularly manufactured shoe, an orthopedic shoe or in any shoe which is being made to order. If needed, any padding or building up through the use of pads can easily and quickly be determined, and if padding is needed to build up the concavity of the arch, this necessity can also be quickly and easily determined.

At the same time this measurement is being taken an outline of the foot can be procured on the sheets of paper spread over the top of the foot plates 17 and 18 and likewise the slides 36 and 31 adjusted so as to secure the proper alignment of the feet of the wearer on the plates 17 and 18 and likewise the slides 30 and 31 adjusted so as to secure the proper alignment of the feet of the wearer on the plates 17 and 18 and at the same time the length of the foot of the person being fitted from the heel to the ball joint of the foot can be determined.

We claim:

1. A pronation indicating device comprising in combination a base, a foot support mounted thereon, a vertically positioned pronation plate pivotally mounted on a horizontal axle secured to said base, a spring having one of its ends secured to one end of the said pronation plate, the other end of the said spring being secured to the adjacent vertical wall of the base, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the said base and secured to said pronation plate at one of its ends, a roller mounted on the said base adjacent the end of the arm opposite the end secured to said pronation plate, a second spring secured to the said base at one of its ends, a flexible member wound about the said roller, one end of the said flexible member being secured to the free end of the pivoted arm and its other end to the end of the said second spring, a rotatable disc mounted upon the said base and a belt connected with the said roller and the rotatable disc whereby movement of the pronation plate is communicated to the said disc.

2. A pronation indicating device comprising in combination a base member having a vertical wall portion at one of its sides, a foot support mounted on the said base, a vertically positioned pronation plate pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a horizontal axle secured to the base, an arm pivotally mounted on the said base intermediate its ends and secured at one of its ends to one end of the pronation plate, a spring secured at one of its ends to the vertical wall portiton of the said base and at its other end to the same end of the pronation plate as is connected to the said arm, and indicating device and connections between the said arm at its end opposite the end connected to said pronation plate and the indicating device whereby the degree of pivotal movemen(ti of the said pronation plate in one direction is indicate v 3. A pronation indicating device comprising in combination a base, a foot support mounted thereon, a vertically positioned pronation plate pivotally mounted on a horizontal axle secured to said base, a spring having one of its end secured to one end of the said pronation plate, the other end of the said spring being secured to the adjacent vertical wall of the base, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the said base and secured to said pronation plate at one of its ends, a roller mounted on the said base adjacent the end of the arm opposite the end secured to said pronation plate, a second spring secured to the said base at one of its ends, a flexible member Wound about the said roller, one end of the said flexible member being secured to the free end of the pivoted arm and its other end to the end of the said second spring, a rotatable disc mounted upon the said base and a belt connected with the said roller and the rotatable disc whereby movement of the pronation plate is communicated to the said disc, each of said springs being under tension whereby the pronation plate is normally held perpendicular to the plane of the foot support.

4. A foot measuring device consisting of a base having an integrally formed wall portion along one of its sides, a vertically extending pronation plate pivotally mounted on a horizontal axle intermediate the ends of the said pronation plate, the said axle being mounted on the said base, a spring secured at one of its ends to one end of the pronation plate and secured to the wall portion of the base at its other end, a movable arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the said base and secured to the same end of the said arm as is the said spring, a roller mounted on the said base adjacent the end of the said arm opposite to the end connected to the said pronation plate, a second spring adjacent the said roller anchored to the base at one of its ends and having its other end free, a flexible member secured to the end of the arm opposite to the end secured to the pronation plate at one of its ends and wound around the said roller and secured at its other end to the free end of the said second spring, a rotatable disc having spiral indicating means thereon, a fixed transparent scale mounted over the said disc having indicia thereon cooperating with the indicating means on the said disc and a belt connecting the said roller and the said disc whereby upon the roller being rotated by the said flexible member such movement is communicated to the said disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,945 Brown June 7, 1921 6 Cobb Feb. 17, 1931 Logan Mar. 8, 1932 Hiss Sept. 11, 1934 Wheeler Dec. 5, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Jan. 19, 1916 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1935 

